Our family is taking a five-day cruise to Bermuda in August on RCL. My sister-in-law and I get motion sickness riding in the backseat of a car. Do we ask our doctor's for a scope patch, scopace pills, antivert, or bonine? Or just report to the doctor on boarding and get the shot?

I also get queasy in the back seat of a car, but had no problem on our cruises.

I brought wristbands; Bonine & Dramamine. Only used the wristbands and wasn't sure I needed them, just precautionary.

Have a good time.

Oh, good to know! Many thanks for the advice!

Dramamine works for me (the full strength version); for some reason, the non-drowsy just doesn't cut it. I've also found that the red and white peppermind candies help with the queasiness.

hello, peppermint, not peppermind.

Try to avoid going to the ships doctor as it will be an expensive visit!

My solution and boy, do I have a tendency to get sea sick... Go to a health food store and buy ginger tablets...I take one immediately upon boarding the ship...you can buy fresh ginger or ginger tea bags, but I prefer th ginger tablets.. Works onthe same principle as when your mother gave you flat gingerale when you were sick.. I would take one at each meal....Then.. when you get to St. George go to Robertsons Pharmacy...and ask for Sturgeron. Sturgeron is what the yachtsmen use in Bermuda..it is not avallable here but in Europe..and it's great for motion sickness. Sturgeron is sold over the counter.. The patch may blur your vision and unless you can buy somethign that is "nondrowsy"....you don't want it..If your not going to be inSt. George ask where the nearest pharmacy is in Hamilton. We will be heading to beautiful Bemuda in September.. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL YOUR SICK.. TAKE IT AHEAD OF TIME..ON THE SHIP.

Hey ParrotMom!
I didnt know you could get ginger tablets. Someone said eat ginger or a ginger biscuit - kind of impossible when youre feeling queasy though!
I will search for them before I go on our New Years cruise which includes sailing on the Bay of Biscay. Thats the one that always makes me feel bad!
Do you mean Stugeron? My late mother swore by them but always called them sturgeon which made me laugh! We get them in tablet form in the UK.

As someone who sees patients all the time, perhaps I can give you some money saving advice and, a bit of advice regarding Scopolamine patches.

Each patch is good for 3 days, so you'll only need 2 for a 5 day cruise. Many docs are busy and call in an order for 5 or more. If that happens, save money by telling the pharmacist you only need 2 and thats all you'll get and ... all you'll be charged for.

For these to work, you must put them on BEFORE the ship sails, such as the afternoon of the sailing.

If you're wondering if you can tolerate them, get an extra one and try it the week before you sail. You can simply take it off if it's bothering you.

Finally, DO NOT make a doctors appointment to get these. Just call your doctor and ask for them for some. The majority of the time they will call you in a prescription without seeing you.

As you can see, each person has their own favorite and I would agree, try to avoid the ships doctors as this will be expensive.

Finally, you can get free dramamine at the Pursurs desk by simply asking for them.

Hope you enjoy a "sea-sickness-free" cruise.

I have spoken to passengers who say that 1/2 a patch is enough.

What is the medicine that is contained in them? We had a death on our cruise in April that (according to rumor) was attributed to the patch!

Scopolamine, is obtained from plants of the nightshades family.

Like many medications, if taken in overdose, can have harmful or fatal results.

It acts as a central nervous system depressant and could have fatal results if taken in large quantities (i.e. putting on multiple patches, chaining them too often, etc.), or, if taken by someone in frail health or in combination with narcotics, alcohol, etc.

The same however could be said for many over the counter medications.

Many people cannot tolerate them and its common to hear people say they didn't like how they felt when wearing them.

Ginger capsules are available in health food stores. Your right about the Sturgeon...it is available in the UK.. The secret to the ginger is NOT to wait until you get sea sick, but start once you board the ship. An M.D. would not give me a prescription for the patch because of p roblems.. and people on cruise ships when I mention it....say something about blurred vision and immediately take it off. I tried the wrist bands that are really for acupuncture area... There is nothing worse than being seasick...lol..

Blurred vision???
I wouldve blamed the champagne!!!

You can also get Ginger Altoids in many stores. I get them at Trader Joe's.

Thank you all for this wonderful advice! I love these ideas and will share them with my family so we can get all these items. Love the ginger tablet idea particularly, as that was our tummyache "cure" when we were little. Thanks again!